Microsoft Provides Fix For Crashes Related To IE PatchMicrosoft Provides Fix For Crashes Related To IE Patch

Microsoft on Tuesday issued support documentation to address Internet Explorer problems caused by last week's security patch.

"We have been working with a small number of customers that reported issues related to the installation of MS07-069," said Kieron Shorrock, the Microsoft Security Response program manager responsible for Internet Explorer, in a blog post. "Specifically, on a Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)-based computer, Internet Explorer 6 may stop responding when you try to a visit a Web site."

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS07-069 addresses four privately reported vulnerabilities that could allow remote code execution if the user of the affected system visits a malicious Web page. MS07-069 is rated critical.

The Microsoft Knowledge Base article for Microsoft Security Bulletin MS07-069, KB942615, has been updated to acknowledge the issue. And article KB946627 explains how to edit the Windows registry to fix the instability introduced to Internet Explorer by the security patch.

According to Shorrock, the IE issue arises as a result of customization and isn't widespread.

Nonetheless, many of those affected are expressing puzzlement that Microsoft would recommend a technically tricky procedure like editing the Windows registry rather than fixing and reissuing the patch.

"With hundreds of users here running XP SP2 with IE6, how can Microsoft be serious that the solution is to edit each registry?" said Phil Shannon on the IEBlog. "Is this some sort of joke? It would be easier to have each user install Mozilla Firefox and stop using IE completely."